Posts

From Rest to Restlessness

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  In the North-East corner of the ‘kolai’ (portico/veranda) of my parent’s house in Kerala, there is a furniture that is most in demand for every generation of the family members. The easy chair - Charu Kasera. It was once an ubiquitous furniture in most houses in Kerala… however, now-a-days, I find it at few homes. The disappearance of the easy chair isn’t just about furniture—it’s about changing family dynamics, the evolution of leisure, and the way our lives have become structured differently. The easy chair, often a cane or wooden recliner, or a foldable one with cloth,   with an extended leg rest, was once a fixture in Kerala, and also in maybe many other homes in India. It was more than just a piece of furniture—it was a throne of authority and relaxation, usually reserved for the eldest in the household. There was an unwritten rule: this was karnavar’s chair (an Hindi equivalent would be Dadaji’s Chair) , and its occupation by anyone else was a transgression of hierarch...

When Too Much Right is Wrong.

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I was watching The Dark Knight with my kid the other night on Netflix. My 13-year-old got totally engrossed in the epic battle between Batman and the Joker. But as the story unfolded, I couldn’t help but think (in the backdrop of BJP’s sweeping victory in Delhi elections after 24 years): Is this movie, in some weird way, about the rise of the right in politics? The character of Harvey Dent in the movie is a perfect example. He starts off as the “White Knight” of Gotham, representing justice and order, much like what we see in societies that lean towards left-wing ideals—social justice, equality, and fairness. But, as his character unravels, it’s clear he’s not as infallible as he seemed. His descent into chaos, after the Joker pushes him past his breaking point, is like a metaphor for how ideologies can get twisted when they push too far. There’s always a breaking point, a moment when something radical takes over. And suddenly, Dent—the good guy—becomes the villain. This descent into ...

The LinkedIn Era of Instant Wisdom

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There’s something almost comical about LinkedIn’s wisdom factory. The moment an ad catches fire - good or bad —like Cadbury’s Not Just a Cadbury Ad , which featured Shah Rukh Khan promoting small businesses—it sparks a frenzy of insights and human truths . Marketing folks (and even those far removed from the field) pounce on the opportunity, dissecting its brilliance, speculating on its success, and anointing it a case study of our times. It’s as though every marketer is on call, ready to declare the causality behind virality. On the flip side, a campaign misstep—like current Jaguar’s rebranding ad—draws an equally feverish response. It becomes a post-mortem free-for-all, with LinkedIn lit up by a chorus of “I told you so,” blaming everything from misjudged social cues, the brand director’s sex orientation to poor corporate strategy. Whether it’s Nike’s market dip or Trump’s election triumph, there’s no shortage of listicles, each purporting to unpack the ‘10 reasons’ behind these out...

From Control to Influence: The New Managerial Paradigm

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Management's history is steeped in the rigid discipline of military order. I remember my MBA professor’s mnemonic— Manage/Men/Tactfully —a sly nod to management’s early roots in hierarchy and precision. F.W. Taylor, the father of scientific management , designed a system built on oversight and efficiency, where managers commanded from their thrones of polished mahogany. When I joined the workforce in the mid-90’s, the control structure was very much visible. The manager’s workspace spoke volumes: a cavernous office with a desk that could seat a small nation, side tables, a fridge laden with benevolence, and a sofa set that whispered exclusivity. In India, most meetings called by the manager, was called a durbar : audience in the royal court.   Control was about proximity. Managers were gatekeepers of information, issuing directives and reinforcing order with the close watch of an army general. In some companies, at the time of joining, they even required a conduct certificate, prov...

Why Storytelling Beats Data-Driven Pitches in Marketing

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  This Diwali holidays, apart from the regular cleaning of the house, I also spent time clearing out old files, an archive of past pitch decks/presentations, from my laptop to save space. As I went through these remnants of previous efforts, one thing became clear: the pitches that resonated most with clients and were successful, were those that was anecdotal rather than data-heavy. Rather than charts, graphs, and research reports that dominated the slides, it was structured narratives, telling a story that clients connected with. What kept me thinking was, why do we instinctively lean towards stories, and why do stories often win over data? Our everyday interactions offer clues. Stories, whether in advertising, news, or casual conversations, are more memorable and engaging than standalone facts. Psychologists have long suggested that humans are “wired” for stories. Studies such as those by Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow , reveal the power of heuristic biases—me...

In Search of Stillness

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It’s Diwali time, and most brands release festival films that aim to capture the spirit of the festival, their brand essence, and oodles of emotions in their storytelling. One such film I came across is the new Parle G Biscuits Diwali ad (link here ). The film tries to revive cherished memories of traditional Diwali celebrations, which are often lost in today’s ‘instant’ world. Yet, the brand fit feels forced, especially with the image of a boy carrying a pack of biscuits that stands out awkwardly. And somewhat abruptly, the ad transitions into a message about finding happiness in the happiness of others. But, looking at the YouTube comments and the number of views (13+ Million in the last count)…the film seem to pull the right chords. What struck me, however, was an unspoken idea the ad triggered—the idea of waiting. Maybe my recent article on the ‘weight’ of communication subconsciously resurfaced, nudging me to reflect on how we are losing the fine art of waiting. Waiting, once an ...

The Hefty Communication

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How Weight Influences Perception and Engagement in Communication In the world of advertising, the debate between traditional and digital media has become almost as enduring as the mediums themselves. While digital platforms increasingly dominate the contemporary landscape, many industry veterans still swear by the effectiveness of print ads, direct mailers, and other tangible forms of communication. Their reasoning might not simply be nostalgia or a Neo-Luddite behaviour —it could hinge on something more substantial: the weight of the medium itself. I remember as a child, my mother used to judge the quality and perceived usefulness of kitchenware—typically stainless steel—often by its weight. The same held true for furniture or household items; heavier meant better. Even plumper children were once considered "healthier." Seen through a different lens, the concept of weight as a proxy for value shows up in the metaphor “penny wise, pound foolish.” Beyond the monetary differenc...